How to Use Continuous Light & A Reflector For Soft Beauty Portraits

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In this video we’re going to be doing some beauty portraits with Heather, but instead of the traditional style where we’re pointing light directly at our subject, I want to show you how you can light this by firing a continuous light into a silver reflector.

Equipment Used:

Team:

Photographer: Sal Cincotta 
Hair & Makeup: Refine Beauty
Model: Heather Turpin

Lighting & Camera Setup

For this shoot I’m using my Canon EOS R5 and my Canon 100mm macro lens, as well as my Canon RF 50mm F1.2 lens for the tighter portraits. For a light stand I’m using a Savage C-Stand to hold the reflector. For light I used the StellaPro Reflex S and firing it directly in to the reflector at half power. What I ended up doing is adding an additional StellaPro light in the background for some separation as a hair light. 

By firing the main light in to the Westcott Silver Reflector, we’re creating a larger light source which softens the light for a better look on the skin. Because the reflector is silver, it’s also going to be a little bit more specular or contrasty, which i like the look of for beauty portraits.

 

creative lighting using continuous light and a reflector for soft beauty portraits 0 31 screenshot (1)
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Final images

In the final images, you can see where we added a hair light. We achieved that look by adding another Reflex S light to the background with a medium optic, barn doors and a CTO gel for the orange color. I like to leave it in the frame up high. If it’s not high enough it just doesn’t look right. For these images I used my Canon RF 50mm F1.2 lens.

 

Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/500, ISO 200
Settings: f/1.2 @ 1/640, ISO 200

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